Our Mission

Reverie Creamery is a small scale cheesemaking company, cheese store, and cheese destination founded by Riko Chandra and Jim Howard in Chautauqua, New York. Reverie produces its own seasonal cheeses and carries a variety of cheeses and goodies from around the world with a focus on small, American, artisanal companies. Reverie is connected to our location through our dedication to using local ingredients and collaborating with a range of local artisans. Our artisan products reflect a meaningful relationship to the land and Western New York’s agricultural heritage through which we connect, experience and savor the flavors of our place and region.

Reverie is a dynamic and constantly evolving entity. Our selection of cheeses varies seasonally and there are always new things to try. We started as a cheese store, with our Artisan Cheese Market, but soon we began making our own fresh goat’s milk cheeses. Next, we started some more aged goat’s and cow’s milk cheeses. Now, we make harder, aged cheeses and some softer, washed-rind cheeses, mostly with cow’s milk. Also, we use our multi-purpose event space for small pairing events. In the future, we will expand to have more pairing events, cheese classes, and harvest dinners. At Reverie, we celebrate cheese and we want you to join in the fun!

Riko Chandra

Co-owner

Riko studied the science and art of cheese making at Cornell University; Sterling College’s Artisan Cheesemaking Institute and Jasper Hill Farm; Westminster Artisan Cheesemaking; and Ploughshare. His teachers include Ivan Larcher from France, Peter Dixon from Vermont, and Rebeccah Durkin from Texas. As a food lover, Riko has been a passionate practitioner and promoter of “local, sustainable and seasonal”.

He was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. His diverse background includes network communication; fashion editorial, photography and merchandising; and a non-profit, vocal chamber music organization “Voces Intimae” that he founded. His passion in photography can be viewed at rikochandra.com

Jim Howard

Co-Owner

Jim enjoyed a long career as a geologist. He lived and traveled extensively in South America, The Far East, Europe and Africa exposing him to many diverse cultures and exotic foods. As a Chautauquan since childhood, Jim developed a broad interest in and appreciation for the arts.

Rachel Vaillancourt

Cheesemaker & Processing Plant Superintendent

Rachel is a recent graduate of Delaware Valley University (Formerly known as Delaware Valley College), Doylestown, PA with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Livestock Science and Management with a minor in Horticulture. She was in the 4-H Program for 10 years and grew up helping out with her grandparents grape farm in South Ripley, NY which is how she gained her passion for agriculture. While in the 4-H Program she raised Toggenburg dairy goats and made her own goat cheese. She is excited to be back in her hometown, Mayville, and ready to start her career as a local artisan cheesemaker. She also enjoys taking care of farm animals, bicycling, hunting, and other outdoor activities such as horseback riding.

Our Partners

21 Brix Winery

6654 West Main Road Portland, New York 14769

21 Brix is a local winery that sells Reverie Cheese on their cheese boards in their tasting room.